UAE retail sales to reach Dh151 billion this year

Retail sales in the UAE are set to grow by 32.9 per cent from Dh114 billion in 2011 to Dh151 billion in 2015, a recent report by Business Monitor International forecasts.

Khalid Shraim, general manager of Hili Mall, Al Ain's biggest community shopping centre, noted that retail growth in the city has been extremely robust since the beginning of the year, backed by strong competitive offerings rolled out across main shopping destinations.

Similarly, an Alpen Capital report detailed that the GCC retail industry continues to maintain positive momentum, driven by key factors such as robust economic growth, rising purchasing power, a growing population comprising a large proportion of expatriates, changing consumption patterns and increasing penetration of international retail players.

"We are monitoring trends in Al Ain's retail sector. Among the factors that have contributed to the vibrant shopping environment are new brands, shopping outlets with easy accessibility, regular entertainment activities and attractive offers," Shraim said.

According to the Retail Operations Index by construction consultancy Arcadis, the UAE is the eighth-most popular global location among international retailers, and the highest ranked in the Middle East. The UAE scored highly for the quality of its infrastructure and its economic environment (third in both categories), but lower (11th) for market demand and the ease of establishing operations.